Image file generation device, image processing device, image file generation method, image processing method, and data structure for image files

An image processing device comprising:

• a storage device configured to store an image file including data for tile images produced by partitioning, to a predetermined size, images in hierarchical data comprising image data that represents a single image at different resolutions, and including index data that maps tile locations defined by partitioning an image in each layer of the hierarchical data into tile images to data for the tile images used to render the tile locations;
• an input information acquisition unit configured to acknowledge a user request to change a display area, the user request including a movement on an image plane or change of resolution;
• and
• a tile image identification unit configured to identify data for a tile image necessary to render an area that should be newly displayed in accordance with the request to change a display area, by referring to the index block;
• a display image processing unit configured to read the data for the identified tile image from the storage device and render the area that should be newly displayed,
• wherein the index data is in the form of index blocks that organize index data for respective tile locations, for each of areas produced by partitioning a hierarchical structure comprising the hierarchical data in a virtual space defined by an image plane of the hierarchical data and an axis of resolution perpendicular to the image plane.

An image processing device comprising:

• an image file acquisition unit configured to read an image file including data for tile images produced by partitioning, to a predetermined size, images in hierarchical data comprising image data that represents a single image at different resolutions, and including index data that maps tile locations defined by partitioning an image in each layer of the hierarchical data into tile images to data for the tile images used to render the tile locations;
• an update information acquisition unit configured to acquire information on update to an image displayed by using the image file;
• a tile image generation unit configured to generate data for a new tile image used to render an area to be updated, based on the update information;
• an index data update unit configured to update data for a tile image mapped to a tile location defined in the index data as being included in the area to be updated to the data for the new tile image;
• and
• an image file generation unit configured to generate an image file that includes data for the tile image generated by the tile image generation unit and the index data updated by the index data update unit,
• wherein the index data is in the form of index blocks that organize index data for respective tile locations, for each of areas produced by partitioning a hierarchical structure comprising the hierarchical data in a virtual space defined by an image plane of the hierarchical data and an axis of resolution perpendicular to the image plane.

An image file generation method comprising:

• generating a plurality of pieces of image data with different resolutions from input image data, generating hierarchical data formed by hierarchizing the plurality of pieces of data according to resolution, and storing the data in a memory;
• reading image data in each layer of the hierarchical data from the memory and partitioning the read data into tile images of a predetermined size;
• creating index data that maps tile locations defined by partitioning an image in each layer of the hierarchical data into tile images to data for the tile images used to render the tile locations, and storing the index data in the memory;
• and
• generating an image file that includes data for the tile images and the index data, and storing the generated file in the memory,
• wherein the creating of index data creates the index data in the form of index blocks that organize index data for respective tile locations, for each of areas produced by partitioning a hierarchical structure comprising the hierarchical data in a virtual space defined by an image plane of the hierarchical data and an axis of resolution perpendicular to the image plane.

An image processing method comprising:

• reading, from a memory, an image file including data for tile images produced by partitioning, to a predetermined size, images in hierarchical data comprising image data that represents a single image at different resolutions, and including index data that maps tile locations defined by partitioning an image in each layer of the hierarchical data into tile images to data for the tile images used to render the tile locations;
• acknowledging a user request to change a display area including movement on an image plane and change of resolution;
• identifying data for a tile image necessary to render an area that should be newly displayed in accordance with the request to change a display area, by referring to the index block;
• and
• reading the data for the identified tile image from the memory, rendering the area that should be newly displayed, and displaying the rendered data on a display device;
• wherein the index data is in the form of index blocks that organize index data for respective tile locations, for each of areas produced by partitioning a hierarchical structure comprising the hierarchical data in a virtual space defined by an image plane of the hierarchical data and an axis of resolution perpendicular to the image plane.

An image processing method comprising;

• reading, from a memory, an image file including data for tile images produced by partitioning, to a predetermined size, images in hierarchical data comprising image data that represents a single image at different resolutions, and including index data that maps tile locations defined by partitioning an image in each layer of the hierarchical data into tile images to data for the tile images used to render the tile locations;
• acquiring information on update to an image displayed by using the image file;
• generating data for a new tile image used to render an area to be updated, based on the update information, and storing the generated data in the memory;
• updating data for a tile image mapped to a tile location defined in the index data as being included in the area to the data for the new tile image;
• and
• generating an image file that includes data for the tile image generated by the tile image generation unit and the index data updated by the index data update unit, and storing the data in the memory,
• wherein the index data is in the form of index blocks that organize index data for respective tile locations, for each of areas produced by partitioning a hierarchical structure comprising the hierarchical data in a virtual space defined by an image plane of the hierarchical data and an axis of resolution perpendicular to the image plane.

A computer program embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, comprising:

• a module configured to generate a plurality of pieces of image data with different resolutions from input image data, generate hierarchical data formed by hierarchizing the plurality of pieces of data according to resolution, and store the data in a memory;
• a module configured to read image data in each layer of the hierarchical data from the memory and partitioning the read data into tile images of a predetermined size;
• a module configured to create index data that maps tile locations defined by partitioning an image in each layer of the hierarchical data into tile images to data for the tile images used to render the tile locations, and store the index data in the memory;
• and
• a module configured to generate an image file that includes data for the tile images and the index data, and store the file in the memory,
• wherein the module to create index data creates the index data in the form of index blocks that organize index data for respective tile locations, for each of areas produced by partitioning a hierarchical structure comprising the hierarchical data in a virtual space defined by an image plane of the hierarchical data and an axis of resolution perpendicular to the image plane.

A computer program embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, comprising:

• a module configured to read, from a memory, an image file including data for tile images produced by partitioning, to a predetermined size, images in hierarchical data comprising image data that represents a single image at different resolutions, and including index data that maps tile locations defined by partitioning an image in each layer of the hierarchical data into tile images to data for the tile images used to render the tile locations;
• a module configured to acknowledge a user request to change a display area including movement on an image plane and change of resolution;
• a module configured to identify data for a tile image necessary to render an area that should be newly displayed in accordance with the request to change a display area, by referring to the index block;
• and
• a module configured to read the data for the identified tile image from the memory, render the area that should be newly displayed, and display the rendered data on a display device;
• wherein the index data is in the form of index blocks that organize index data for respective tile locations, for each of areas produced by partitioning a hierarchical structure comprising the hierarchical data in a virtual space defined by an image plane of the hierarchical data and an axis of resolution perpendicular to the image plane.

A computer program embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, comprising:

• a module configured to read, from a memory, an image file including data for tile images produced by partitioning, to a predetermined size, images in hierarchical data comprising image data that represents a single image at different resolutions, and including index data that maps tile locations defined by partitioning an image in each layer of the hierarchical data into tile images to data for the tile images used to render the tile locations;
• a module configured to acquire information on update to an image displayed by using the image file;
• a module configured to generate data for a new tile image used to render an area to be updated, based on the update information, and store the generated data in the memory;
• a module configured to update data for a tile image mapped to a tile location defined in the index data as being included in the area to the data for the new tile image;
• and
• a module configured to generate an image file that includes data for the tile image generated by the tile image generation unit and the index data updated by the index data update unit, and store the data in the memory,
• wherein the index data is in the form of index blocks that organize index data for respective tile locations, for each of areas produced by partitioning a hierarchical structure comprising the hierarchical data in a virtual space defined by an image plane of the hierarchical data and an axis of resolution perpendicular to the image plane.